Pocket flash light



' July 18, 1933. L. ABBOTTS 1,919,024

POCKET FLASH LIGHT Filed Aug. 6, 1931 Ma, /5 20 2/ l2 9 2/ /2 li 25 y v?/5 3; u /5 25 0 1 1 24 F762. Q 7 m I If Z2 9 7 30 j\ L I 23 U /4 /7 29 a/4 Patented-July 1a, 1933 LEONARD ABBOTTS, OF BBIDGEPORT, OONNEGTICUT,ASSIGNOR TO THE BRIDGEPOBT- METAL GOODS MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OFBRIDGE-PORT, CONNECTICUT, A

CORPORATION OF OONNEUDIOUT .POWET' sense mom Application filed August a,193i. serial no, states This invention relates to new and usefulimgiovements in pocket flash lights:

object of the invention is to provide a pocket flash light of the typeshown in United States Patent No. l, lll8,52"d of Match 1922 andincluding improved circuit closing means whereby the light mey beflashed on and ofi' or may be maintained on es desized Another object isto provide flash iinclu-ding a circuit closing ariangen economicalconstruction and which is cand reliable in operation and which adaptsthe iiash light for use with batteries what different lengths such asthe veil... incident to manufacture @ther objects and advantages iilbecome apparent from a consideration of the follow ing; detaileddescription taken in connection with the accompanying drawing whereinsatisfactory embodiment oithe invention is shown. However, it is to heunderstood that the invention is not limited to the precise detailsshown but includes all such variations end modifications as fall withinthe spirit the invention and the scope of the appended claims to whichclaims reference is to he had for a definition of the invention.

in the drawing:

Fig. l is a View partly in side elevation and partly in section andshowing the cone pletely assembled flash light;

"Fig. 2 is a sectional View on an enlarged scale showing the switch orcircuit closing end of the dash light, the switch being in normal or offposition;

Fig. 3 is a View somewhat similar to Fig, 2 but showing the switch incircuit closing position for flash efiect; and

Fig. i is a View similar to Fig. 3 but showing" the switch locked incircuit closing position.

Referring" in detail to the drawing the improved flash light is shown asincludinga metal casing comprisingseparable end sec-- tions 5 and 6connected bv screw threads as indicated at 7. Section 6 of the casing isadapted to carry a bulb 8 and to accommodate the bulb is turnedbackwardl v upon itself to provide a screw threaded neck 9 to LClE;

receive the screw sheli 10 of the bulb and is also shaped as at 11 toprovide e. ieflector for the bulb. I

Adjacent its outer end the section 5 of the casing carries on aperturedTing-shaped insulator 12 adapted to move or flout between two internalbeads end it rolled in the casing: The sections 5 end 6 of the casingeie edapted to be uncoupled at land a lostteiy 15 may then be insertedinto one section of the cosine; and the other section of the cesing theythen be disposed over on end of the etteiy and the casing sectionsscrewed to- At one end the battery will have Lei: its cei te l cont-set18 engaging" l short battery is used and losing; moved in the diseotionof the bead when s selativeiy long bettesy is used. will be understoodthat the shell it of the bulb is gsounded on the cesing and that thecentral contact oi the hulh is engaged by central contact 16 of battery,and to complete the 'cis suit between the battery and bulb s butnecesesify to form it connection between the pole of the hotter and thecasing". ine end ot the section 5 02% the casing be yond the insulates32 is opeitured as at it,

said operture preferably osing in alignment aperture 12a in theinsulates. Extending; throue'h the aperture 17 is a push button 18including a shoulder 19 disposed the inner side of the end 20 of thesection 5 of the casing. This shoulder 1:9 is of such diameter as not topass through the eperture 1'? end within the casing and hearing" at oneend against the insulator 12 end at its other end against the shoulder19 of the push but-=- ton is a coil spring 21.

Coil spring 21 serves to maintain the push button oi switching means inits normal or 1th the cen- J coiled s 921 when relative off position asshown in Figs. 1 and 2 and this spring also serves to maintain thelIlSlllater 12 against one end of the battery so as to maintain theother end of the battery in engagement with the central contact of thebulb. The diameter of the push button 18 im mediately above the shoulder19 is such that the push button has a relatively snug but easilyslidable fit in the aperture 17 and toward its outer end the button hasa portion of reduced diameter providing a groove 22 the purpose ofwhichwill later appear.

At its inner end the push button is reduced somewhat and includes ashank 23 to which is secured and from which projects into the aperture12a of the insulator 12 a compres sible or yieldable contact member heredisclosed as a relatively light coil spring 24. The aperture 17 being inalignment with the aperture in the insulator 12 the push button 18 withits contact member 24 is also in align ment with the opening in theinsulator and therefore when the push button is pressed the contactmember 24 passes downwardly or inwardly through the aperture in theinsulator and contacts with the battery. A circuit is thus closed fromthe battery through the member 24 and push button 18 to the casingresulting in the bulb being energized. The extension 24 is not ofsufficient length to engage the end of the battery in its normal or offposition as shown in Fig. 2 so that when it is in this position thecircuit is open.

It will be noted in Fig. 3 that the push button has been moved but ashort distance to bring the contact member 24 into engagement with theend of battery 15. Of course, on the push button being released spring21 will react to return the push button to its normal or of]? positionas shown in Figs. 1 and 2. As has been suggested the push button may belocked in circuit closing position and to acomplish this it is butnecessary to press the button inwardly until its grooved portion 22 isreceived in the aperture 17 and to then tilt the button slightly to oneside for example as shown in Fig. 4.

An inspection of Fig. 4 will show that the spring 21 tending to returnthe push button to normal positon forces a portion of the shoulder 25defining one end of the groove 22 against the end 20 of the section 5 ofthe casing whereby the push button is held in circuit closing position.To release the button it is but necessary to move it into alignment withthe aperture 17 when the spring 21 will act to move the button toinoperative position with its shoulder 19 disposed against the end wall20.

Owing to the fact that batteries vary in length the push button orplunger must have suiiicient movement in order that it may close thecircuit and after reaching circuit closing position be capable ofadditional movement whereby it may be moved into its locked cir cuitclosing positon. This is taken care of by the yieldable extension 24 ofthe push button. This yieldable extension also permits the use of thelight either as a flash light or as a permanent light. Thus it will beseen that this yieldable extension is of sufiicient length to engage theend of the battery and thus close the circuit through the light beforethe shoulder 25 passes into the opening 17 in the end of the casing.Thus if the push button is now released without pushing it in furtherthe push button will be shifted back by spring 21 to open the circuitand the light can be used as a flash light. However, if it is desired touse it as a steady light all that is necessary is to press in the pushbutton further after the circuit is closed to the position of Fig. 4 sothat it will be held closed by the shoulder 25 engaging the inner wallof the end of the casing. It will be clear this further movement of thepush button after the circuit is closed is permitted by yielding of theextensi on 24. It will of course be understood other contsitructions ofyieldable extensions can be use Having thus set forth the nature of myinvention, what I claim is:

1. A flash light comprising a casing, a bulb at one end of the casingand grounded thereon, an apertured insulator in the other end of thecasing, a battery within the easing and at one end 'contactmg with thebulb and at its other end seating against the insulator, spaced stopmeans within the casing and between which the insulator is movablelongitudinally of the casing to accommodate batteries of difierentlengths, a push button extending through an extremity of the casing,spring means engaging the push button and the insulator and normallymaintaining the push button in inoperative position, and a yieldingcontact means carried by the push button and adapted on the push buttonbeing pressed to pass through the aperture in the insulator and engagethe battery to close a circuit to the bulb.

2. A flash light comprising a casing, a bulb at one end of the casingand grounded thereon, an apertured insulator in the other end of thecasing and movable longitudinally thereof, stops on opposite sides ofthe insulator to limit its movement, a battery within the casing and atone end contacting with the bulb and at its other end seating againstthe insulator, push button means extending through an extremity of thecasing having a shoulder, a spring pressing at its opposite ends againstthe shoulder and the insulator, and a yielding contact means comprisinga relatively small coil spring carried by the push button and adapted toengage the battery through the aperture in the insulator to close acircuit to the bulb on the push button being pressed in the directionof: the casing.

3. A flash light comprising a casing, 21

bulb at one end of the casing and grounded thereon, an aperturedinsulator in the other end of the casing and movable longitudinally ofthe casing, stops on opposite sides of the insulator to limit itsmovement, a battery within the casing and at one end contacting with thebulb and at its other end seating against the insulator, a push buttonmeans extending through an extremity of the easing, a spring tending toshift the push button and insulator in opposite directions, a yieldingcontact means carried by the push button and adapted to engage thebattery through the aperture in the insulator to close a circuit to thebulb on the push button being pressed in the direction of the casing,and means to lock the push button in depressed circuit closing position.

4. A flash llght comprising a casing, a bulb at one end of the casing,an apertured insulator in the other end of the casing movablelongitudinally of the casing, means to limit movement of the insulator,a battery within the casing and at one end seating against theinsulator, a push button means extending through an opening in anextremity of the casing, a spring operating at its opposite ends againstthe insulator and the ush button, a yielding contact means carried bythe push button and adapted to engage the batterythrough the a erture inthe insulator to close a circuit to t e bulb on the push button beinpressed in the direction of the casing, an said push button having areduced portion whereby the button may be tilted on the button beingpressed to bring its reduced portion into the opening in the casing tothereby lock the button in circuit closing position.

5. A flash light comprising a casing, a bulb at one end of the casing,an apertured insulator in the other end of the casing mounted forlimited movement longitudinally of the casing, a battery Within thecasing and at one end seating against the insulator, a push button meansextending through an extremity of the casing, spring means normallymaintainin said push button means in inoperative position and tending toforce the insulator toward the battery, a yielding contact means,comprising a relatively small coil spring carried by the push button andadapted to engage the battery through the aperture in the insulator toclose a circuit to the bulb on the push button being pressed in thedirection of the casing, said push button operating through an openingin the extremity of the casing, and said push button having a reducedportion whereby the button may be tilted on being pressed to bring itsreduced portion into the opening in the casing to thereby lock thebutton in depressed circuit closing position.

- LEONARD ABBOTTS.

